A good education is a foundation for success, both for our kids and for our country.As a Member of Congress, I have made it one of my top priorities to ensure all our citizens, children and adult alike, have the opportunity to receive a quality education that will allow them to succeed.I am proud to report that Congress is busy at work to make this happen.

In these tough economic times, schools are often getting hit the hardest. Deeper and deeper budget cuts in California are threatening our children’s education as well as the vitality of our future economy.We cannot put our children’s education on hold while this budget crisis is resolved; rather we must do all that we can to ensure that they continue to receive the best education possible in these challenging times.This is why I was proud to vote for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which provided billions of dollars for education.

Last Congress I proudly supported several important measures that will help make college education a reality for countless students across the country.The College Cost Reduction Act enacted the largest increase in student aid since the 1944 G.I. Bill.The reauthorization of the Higher Education Act increased funding for Pell Grants, simplified the financial aid process, increased aid for parents in planning for college costs, cut student loan interest rates in half, and provided loan forgiveness for public service after 10 years.

Congress also successfully worked to give more children the best start possible to a good education by passing the Improving Head Start for School Readiness Act.By authorizing more funding, this bill will allow more children to get the essential skills they need to a successful education. So much of education is focused on closing achievement gaps and I believe Head Start is one of the best tools to do that.

Finally, Congress has the opportunity to improve public education through the reauthorization of the No Child Left Behind Act. The reauthorization process is well underway with House and Senate Committees holding dozens of hearing to figure out where improvements need to be made.I have also done my own fact-finding, visiting schools at all grade levels up and down the Central Coast.I heard directly from those working under NCLB on a daily basis – teachers, parents and administrators – about what is and what is not working. I believe changes need to be made to improve our education system and the reauthorization process is our chance to do just that.